Police said the 24-year-old was "extremely fortunate" to have avoided life-threatening injuries when an argument between two groups at a Southport kebab shop turned physical about 7pm.

Detective Senior Sergeant Troy Penrose said the groups left the shop, Southport Kebabs, and walked to an alley behind the building, where one man from each group started fighting.

"During this assault the victim has sustained a punch to the head causing him to fall to the ground where he's received injuries to his head," he said.

Police said the man who threw the punch fled the scene.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the man to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Police were combing CCTV footage from the area and trying to track down any witnesses to the fight.

Senior Sergeant Penrose said it was unclear what the fight was over.

He said the 24-year-old man was in an induced coma but his injuries were not life threatening and he was expected to make a full recovery.

Earlier

A man is fighting for life in hospital after collapsing during a punch-up on the on the Gold Coast.

Police said the 24-year-old got into an argument with a group of men about 7pm at Southport Kebabs on Scarborough Street, before stepping outside to a carpark where the fight broke out between two men.

The victim collapsed and the other fighter fled the scene, police said.

The man was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Police were searching for the other fighter.